Durban medic's 10km slog towards his dream

Durban - A volunteer rescue technician will take several thousand steps towards realising his dream of becoming a full-fledged paramedic - running 10km in full firefighter gear weighing more than 30kg to raise funds for his cause.

Durban’s Mark Basson, 34, will heave the heavy kit all 10 000m in two weeks to try to raise funds towards his tuition for a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree in Emergency Medical Care at the Durban University of Technology.

Basson, who helps to run a volunteer rescue organisation, told News24 that he had a passion for saving lives.

"People say God gives you a talent in life, and I believe that it is my God-given talent to save lives. It’s in my blood, it’s all I want to do and think about. My ultimate goal is to be an advanced life-support paramedic and rescue specialist. I would love to learn those skills that will enable me to save the lives of people in need," he said.

Currently qualified to administer intermediate life support, Basson said he has to leave full-time employment in the Emergency Medical Services and work outside the industry because the pay is so poor.

"Unfortunately the salary scale of an intermediate life-support paramedic is not great, so I have had to leave the job I love so I can support my family. I still volunteer as an intermediate life-support paramedic for ER24 on the ambulance when they need me to assist.

"I am also the operations commander for a volunteer search and rescue unit called Rescuetech. I am on 24-hour standby for the unit."

Basson said he wants to better himself and he is prepared to go to any length to do it and make life easier for his family.

"In a nutshell, it’s not the cost of the annual tuition fees, which is under R30 000, that is the biggest challenge, but the living expenses of R120 000 per year to support my family, as it is a full-time course. I am looking for donations or a sponsorship so I can live my dream. Hence the reason for the challenge I have set myself."

Basson has twice been nominated for awards that celebrate heroism in the line of duty.